The Diocese of Calapan (Latin: Dioecesis Calapanensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. In 2010, 756,000 residents had been baptized out of about 814,000 inhabitants.[1][2]
It has six related parishes. The episcopal residence and seat of the diocese is the Santo Niño Cathedral located in Calapan.[3]
History
The Apostolic Prefecture of Mindoro was created on July 2, 1936, with territories taken from the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Jaro and Lipa, both of which were later elevated into archdioceses.
On July 12, 1951, Pope Pius XII, through the papal bull Merit ab Apostolic, elevated the apostolic prefecture to an apostolic vicariate.[1]
On December 19, 1974, and January 27, 1983, portions of its territory were lost to the creation of the Diocese of Romblon and the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose in Mindoro.[1]
On March 25, 2026 Pope Leo XIV has elevated the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan to a diocese and appointed its apostolic vicar, Moises Cuevas, as its first bishop.[4] The diocese was canonically erected on August 7, 2026.[5]
Ordinaries
| Name | Period in office | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bishop William Finnemann, S.V.D. | December 04, 1936 – October 10, 1942 |
| 2. | Fr. Henry Ederle, S.V.D. | June 06, 1946 – July 12, 1951 |
| Name | Period in office | Coat of arms | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bishop Wilhelm Josef Duschak, S.V.D. | July 12, 1951 – November 26, 1973, resigned[2] | |
| 2. | Bishop Simeon Oliveros Valerio, S.V.D. | November 26, 1973 – September 26, 1988, resigned[2] | |
| 3. | Bishop Warlito Itucas Cajandig | April 28, 1989 – November 7, 2022, ceased | |
| 4. | Bishop Moises Magpantay Cuevas | June 29, 2023 – August 7, 2026, elevated as first Bishop of Calapan | |
Ordinaries of the Diocese of Calapan (2026–present)
| Name | Period in office | Coat of arms | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bishop Moises Magpantay Cuevas | August 7, 2026 – present (30 days) | |
References
- 1.[1.2][1.3]David M., Cheney. "Vicariate Apostolic of Calapan". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- 2.[2.2][2.3]"Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan". The Catholic Directory of the Philippines. Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. 2015. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
- 3."Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan". Claretian Publications. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- 4.CBCP News (March 25, 2026). "Vatican elevates Calapan to diocese; Cuevas named first bishop". CBCP. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- 5.Diaz, Kat Galdo (August 6, 2026). "New Chapter: The Elevation of the Diocese of Calapan". Dominus Est. Retrieved August 7, 2026.